Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1887-11-01
The Lee Monument.
Laying Of tie Cornerstone, at Rich
moad, Pa.
IFor the spirit Of JetIerson.l
RIcHMoNp, w, Oct. 2s, 1857

Way 0ct. 20, 1904.
During all this week, beginning
with Monday, it has rained-a week
in which so much was to transpire in
Virginia's Capital. Yet the rain and
the muddy streets were but small OBJ
stacles when it was remembered that
on Thursday, October 27th, the cor
ner-stone of a monument to be erect
ed to the memory of our illustrious
Lee, was to be laid. AT least so it
appeared from the number of people
who came to see it, and who paraded
and seemed to enjoy it. As early as
Wednesday night nearly all the hotels
and boarding houses Of the city were
full, not to mention the immense num-
Der who staid with friends. The
street cars we're full even to overflow
ing, although they were running dou-
BILE as many as usual.
The first sound heard on Thursday
morning was the continual drop, drop,
of the rain. The next was the boom!
boom! Of the cannon, as they saluted
the train bearing the Maryland Wis
itors, among them being the Mary
land troops that were to take part in
the ceremonies, and a portion of the
Marine Band.
By this time the whole city was
astir, and the roads leading into it
were marked by continuous lines Of
buggies, horses and people on foot.
In fact, in the city, the streets along
the line of the parade were entirely
impossible. the stores and houses
were full to their utmost capacity
During all this time the air was filled
by the sweet strains of music given
forth by the different bands, the clat-
ter Of horses hoofs, the roa of artil-
lery and the loud commands of the
military officers as they marshaled
their troops.
AS is always the case on such oc-
casions, there was the usual delay in
starting the procession, but five min
utes before eleven o'clock it began.
In front came Gov. Lee, President of
the Lee Monument Association; near
him were Generals Early, Johnston,
| Wade Hampton, Wickham, and of
course many other generals, colonies,
majors, captains, etc., ''too numerous
to mention" Gov. Wilson and ex-
Gov. Cameron were in the same hack.
After these came the different COM
panics and regiments of soldiery,
each headed by some band of music
or a drum corps. or soldiery, there
were companies from Maryland,
North Carolina. District of Columbia
and all parts of Virginia. The most
conspicuous of these were the V. NJ.
1. Cadets, under command of Col.
Scott Ship. The Blacksburg Cadets
also made a fine showing.
The veterans, of course, had their
places; conspicuous among these was
the fragment of Wickham's Cavalry,
and though spoken of as a fragment,
it was a large and fine looking body
of men and we'll mounted. The
knights Templar were also there in
full force, and, as is usually the case,
attracted much attention by their
handsome uniforms and accoutre-
ments. About fifty students from
| Washington and Lee University came
down and were in the line of march.
After moving through the principal
streets of the city, which were beau
tifully decorated with flags, %festoons,
ETC., the procession arrived at the site
of the proposed monument, where the
Lee Veterans had been awaiting them
for the past three hours. Here, be-
tween one and two o'clock, they pro-
ceeded to lay the cornerstone. Gov.
Lee as president, had charge, and
called upon the Rev. DR.. Moses d.
Hoge to invoke the Divine blessing,
after which it was given over to the
Masons to complete the ceremony.
On account Of the rain, the ovation
to be delivered by Col. Charles Mar
shall. and the poem composed by the
late James Barron Hope of Norfolk,
and to be read by Capt. w. Gordon
McCabe, were put off until night,
when they were delivered in the Sem
ate Chamber. B.